Lighter construction



L. V. AARONSON LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION n Filed Dec. 27, 1928 III lers and, more particularly,

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT IOFI-ica LOUIS V. ABONBON,

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Lrclrm CONSTRUCTION application mea December a7, ma. semi no. ssaroo.

The invention relates in general to lightto pocket lighters of the type commpnly used for lighting `ci arettes and the like.

he objects of the invention include the provision of a lighter of the type described which will operate with a snap action by merely pushing a button, a lighter which is safe to carry .about in the poc et and which will not 4light'accidentally and one which has a substantially smooth outer surface with no long projecting parts.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The single figure represents a section in elevation.

In the following claims parts will be description and in the identied by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, a practical commercial embodiment of the invention is shown, but as such illustration is primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the structure may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad s irit and scopev of the invention as hereina er defined and claimed.

Referring now to the drawing, the. lighter comprises a casing having side walls 10, end walls 11 and 12, avbottom wall 13 and a top wall 14. A dividing wall 15 divides ,the casing into a reservoir 16 and an ignition space 17. The bottom wall 13 has a liner plate 18 in which is threaded a plug 19 removable for filling vthe reservoir with the usual fuel. A curved tube 20 connects with the liner plate 18 and passes through the dividing wall 15. p

A stick 21 of sparking metal lies in the upper end of the tube 20 and a coiled spring 22 yieldably presses vthe sparking metal against the sparking-wheel 23. The spring 22has a contact piece 24 secured to the ,upper end and plug 25 at its lower end, the

plug being threaded intol the lower endY of the tube 20.

A wick holder 26 seats in an o ening in ing 32 in which is positioned the button 33 of the operating member 34. The snuier carrying member 31 has a flat to wall 35 and depending side walls 36 rotata le within the side Walls 10 of the casing. The top wall is bent downwardly at one end to form anA abutment 37 to bear against a bell crank latch member 38. A snuer member a the dividing-wall 15 and a wick 2 is posi- 51 for extinguishing the lighted wick depends from the top wall 35.

The wheel 23 is positioned between the side walls 36 of the carrying member 31 and a vpivot 39 passes through the side walls 10 of the casing, he side walls 36 of the carrying member and through the center of the sparking vwheel 23. A coiled spring 40 is ositioned around the pivot 39 and one en abuts the dividing Wall 15 andthe other end abuts the to wall 35, this spring being normally un er tension to continually urge the carrying member 31 to swing to its upper or open position about the pivot 39. The bell crank-latch member 38 is pivoted to a lug 41 attached to the dividing wall b a pivot is loosely positioned the reduced stem 44 ofthe operating member 34. provided on the reduced stem 44 for limiting vthe relative axial movement of the operating member 34 and latch member 38 land the coiled spring 29 surrounds a reduced portion 46 under the collar 45. vThe connection between the operating member and latch member is loose enough Ato allow for the giiference in motion between these memrs. A safety wheel 47 pro'ects thro h a slot in the end wall 12 an is pivote to the 42 and has an opening 43 in which A collar is v dividing wall 1 5 by a pivot 48. This wheel s a cam member 49 engageable with vthe bell crank lever.

`When the lighter is vcarried in the pocket, the safety wheel 47 is in such' a position that the cam 49 is under the bell crank lever 88 as shown in the drawin thereby precluding inward movement-o the operating member 84.

To light'the lighter, the safety wheel 47 is rotatedfto remove the cam from the latch member and the button 33 is then pushed downwardly to move the catch 38 out of ellilgagement with the abutment 37, thereby a owing the sprin 40 to snap the carrying .member 81 sud enly upwardly carrying the sparking wheel 23 with it. The rubbing action of the sparking wheel23 against the sparking metal 21 causes a shower of s arks to impinge u on the wick 27 and llght the wick in a wel -known manner. The carrying member 31 will be left in its upr posltion while the lighter is being used. gehe openings in the slde walls 10 ensure sufficient Isupply of air.

To close t e lighter, the carrying memi ber 31 is simply pressed downwardly to its ,o position shown under t closed osition in which the latch 38 under the in uence of the spring 29 snaps to the e abutment 37, thereby holding the carrying member in closed position against the action of the spring 40. The safety wheel 47 is then move to the position shown to preclude accidental operation of the operating member 34. The engagement of the snuffer member 51 over the wick 27 extinguishes the fire as is well understood.

It will be seen that, when the casing is closed, the walls are substantially continuous, being uninterrupted by long projecting parts. It is only necessar that the button 33 andthe safety wheel 4 project a small amount to allow enga ement with the fingers. Eurthermore, it will seen that, when the llghter is open, the walls 10, 11 and 12 of the casin protect the wick and flame from drafts W ich mi ht otherwise blow out the flame. It will ge seen, furthermore, that the lighter is of simple and rugged construction and can be made inexpensively. The lighter, furthermore, is of pleasing appearance and will give satisfactory service.

The filling cap 19 if desired may be provided with an internal removable sleeve member 19 and insertable from the outside of the container. The sleeve or capsule member 19 may be used to carry a spare piece of pyro horic material in a position readily accessi le to the user. Inasmuch as the capsule 19 as shown is arranged to be slid into place fromthe exterior of the filling cap, the pyrophoric material therein is not exposed to the contents of the fuel receptacle which under certain circumstances may in time cause deterioration of the sparking metal when in contact therewith as is possible in the present common construction where the s are pyrophoric stick is removable from t e inside of the filling cap member. The filling cap 19 is preferably provided with a thumb nut top portion, the under surface of which is tapered `as shown to provide a good liquid tlght fit with the receptacle. The capsule 19 may have a snug fit with the interior of the ca 19 or the capsule may be (atsberw'ise proper y secured within the ca v hile certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and ,in its o eration may be made by those skilled in t e art without departing from the spirit yof the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A lighter -comprising a casing havin a bottom wall and a top wall, side and en walls extendin therebetween, said top Wall having firstancgl second openings, a dividing wallspaced from said bottom wall to form a fuel reservoir therebetween, a wick holder carried by said dividing wall, a wick in said holder extending into said reservoir, sparking material above said dividin wall, a carrying member disposed in said rst opening and having a top wall substantially coextensive with said casing to wall and depending side walls sliding within said cas- 1n side walls, a spark wheel between the si e Walls of said carrying member and secured thereto, pivot means connecting the side walls of sald casing and of said carrying member, said wheel being disposed against said material, spring means normally urging said carrying member u war ly, said carrying member having a diipending abutment, a bell crank catch pivoted in said casing with one end under said abutment, a plunger in said second opening, means to operate said catch by pressing sald plunger, spring means normally urgin said` catch and plunger to their initial pos1- tions, a safety member projecting from said casing and means to prevent acci ental o eration of said plunger by said safety mem er.

2. A lighter comprising a casing havin a bottom wall and a top wall, side and en walls extendin therebetween, said top wall having first an second openings, a dividing wall spaced from said bottom wall to form a fuel reservoir therebetween, a wick holder carried by said dividing wall, a wick in said holder extending into said reservoir, s arking material passing through saiddivlding Wall, a carrymg member disposed in said first opaning and having a to wall substantia y coextensive with sai casing top wall and depending side walls sliding within said casing side walls, a snuffer depending from said carrying member, a spark wheel between the side walls of said carrying membery and secured thereto, a pivot passing through the side walls of said casing and of said carrying member and said wheel, said Wheel being disposed against said material, a coil spring around said pivot having one end under the top wall of said carr ing member and the other end against saidl dividing wall, said carrying member having a depending abutment., a bell crank catch pivoted to said dividing wall with one end under said abutment and having a hole in its other end, a seat in said dividing wall,

a second spring in said seat, a plunger in said second opening and secured to said second spring, said plunger having a reduced portion disposed in said hole, a safety wheel pivoted to said dividing wall and projecting through said slot, and a cam member on said wheel for engagement under said catch.

3. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing having top and bottom walls, side wall structure joining said top and bottom walls, a dividing wall spaced from said bottom wall to form a fuel reservoir therebetween, a wick and a pyrophoric member extending through said dividingl wall, an abradant wheel coacting with sai pyrophoric element, a pivoted carrying member, asnuifer cap on said carrying member to one side of said wheel, a spring biasing said carrying member to open position, and means for releasably retaining said carrying member in closed position, said means comprising a latch disposed at the other side of said wheel. I

4. Pyrophoric lighting mechanism comprising a casing having top and bottom walls, side wall structure joining said top and bottom Walls, a dividing wall spaced from said bottom wall to form a fuel reservoir therebetween, a wick and a (fyrophoric element extending through sai pyrophoric element, a pivote carrying member, a snuffel' cap on said carrying member to one side of said wheel, a spring bias ing said carrying member to open position and means for releasably retaining sai carrying member in closed position, said means comprising a latch disposed at the other side of said wheel, and an operating wall, an abradant wheel coact horic element, a pivote a snuier 'cap on vsaid carrying side of said wheel, a spring ng member to open p for releasably retaining r in closed position,

a latch disposed at wheel, an operating ereof I have signed vmy dividin l Wall, an abradant Wheel coactin with sai dividing y iao 

